Faced with rising costs affecting all parts of higher education, the College has had to raise tuition annually in recent years. Further increases may be expected.

Schedule of Payments

By registering for courses, students accept responsibility for the charges of the entire academic year, regardless of the method of payment. The College bills for each semester separately. The bill for the fall semester is sent in late June and is due August 1. The bill for the spring semester is sent in late November and is due January 2.

As a convenience to parents and students, the College currently offers a payment plan administered by an outside organization that enables monthly payment of all or part of annual fees in installments without interest charges. Payments for the plan commence prior to the beginning of the academic year. Information about the payment plan is available from the Comptroller’s Office.

No student is permitted to attend classes or enter residence until payment of the College charges has been made each semester. No student may register at the beginning of a semester, graduate, receive a transcript or participate in room draw until all accounts are paid, including the activities fee assessed by the student Self Government Association officers. This fee covers class and hall dues and support for student organizations and clubs. All resident students are required to participate in the College meal plan.

A fee of $250 per semester will be charged to all undergraduates who are studying at another institution during the academic year and who will transfer the credits earned to Bryn Mawr College, with the exception of students in the Junior Year Abroad Program.

Students are permitted to reserve a room during the spring semester for the succeeding academic year, prior to payment of room and board fees, if they intend to be in residence during that year. Those students who have reserved a room but decide, after June 15, to withdraw from the College or take a leave of absence are charged a fee of $500. This charge is billed to the student’s account.

All entering students are required to make a deposit of $200. This deposit is applied to the student’s tuition account.

Refund Policy

Written notice of intention to withdraw must be submitted to the student’s dean. The date on which written notice is received (or the date on which the student signs a notice of withdrawal) is the official date of withdrawal. All students receiving financial aid must consult with the Financial Aid Office and the Comptroller’s Office, including students who have received government-insured loans, such as loans guaranteed by state agencies and by the federal government to meet educational expenses for the current academic year. Bryn Mawr College’s refund policies are in compliance with federal regulations.

Details on the federal calculation of refunds can be obtained from the assistant director of Financial Aid and/or from the Comptroller’s Office.

Financial Aid

For general information about financial aid and how to apply for financial aid, consult the Financial Aid Office Web site at http://www.brynmawr.edu/financialaid. To obtain more information about the financial aid application and renewal process, types of aid available and regulations governing the disbursement of funds from grant and loan programs, contact the Financial Aid Office to request a copy of the Financial Aid Handbook, which is updated and published every year.

The education of all students is subsidized by the College because their tuition and fees cover only part of the costs of instruction. To those students well qualified for education in the liberal arts and sciences but unable to meet the College fees, Bryn Mawr is able to offer further financial aid. Alumnae and friends of the College have built up endowments for scholarships; annual gifts from alumnae and other donors add to the amounts available each year. It is now possible to provide aid for more than 58 percent of the undergraduate students in the College. The value of the grants ranges from $2,000 to $38,000.

Initial requests for financial aid are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office and are judged on the basis of the student and her family’s financial situation. Students must reapply each year. Eligibility is redetermined annually, assuming the student has maintained satisfactory progress toward her degree. Bryn Mawr College subscribes to the principle that the amount of aid granted a student should be based upon documented financial eligibility. All applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The CSS PROFILE form is required for all undergraduate students except those in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, and those undergraduates who wish to be considered only for federal loans. When the total amount of aid needed has been determined, awards are made in the form of grants, loans and jobs.

In addition to the funds made available through College resources, Bryn Mawr participates in the following Federal Student Assistance Programs:

The Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program: Low interest loans with variable rates for undergraduate and graduate students more commonly known as Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans for parents of dependent undergraduates.

The Federal Perkins Loan: A low-interest (5%) federal loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with federal need.

The Federal Work-Study Program: This program provides funds for campus jobs for students who meet the federal eligibility requirements.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): A federal grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants.

Instructions to apply for financial aid are included in the Admissions Prospectus. Each candidate must file the CSS PROFILE (college code number 2049) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (college I.D. number 003237). These forms must be filed no later than February 7 of the student’s final year in high school. Early Decision Plan applicants must submit the CSS Profile by November 15 for the fall Early Decision Plan, and by January 1 for the winter Early Decision Plan. Applications for financial aid for transfer students are due no later than March 1.

The CSS PROFILE application must be completed online. Students must first register for their customized PROFILE at www.collegeboard.com, and then complete the PROFILE application online. The PROFILE application should be submitted at least one week prior to the Bryn Mawr deadline.

Students and their families are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov to expedite processing. Paper applications are available from high school guidance offices, local libraries or by calling the financial aid office. Processing can take from four to six weeks.

Returning students must reapply for financial aid each year. All applications and documents must be received at the Financial Aid Office by April 15. Eligibility is redetermined annually and depends on the student’s maintaining satisfactory progress toward the degree and on her continued demonstrated need for assistance. The financial aid award may change each year as a result of annual changes in family circumstances, such as the number of family members in college or the family’s adjusted gross income. Self-help expectations — that is, the amount earned through campus employment and the amount of the federal loan a student is expected to borrow — increase each year.

For students who applied the previous year using the paper FAFSA, the Department of Education will mail a Renewal FAFSA to the student’s home in November or December, or students may pick up a paper FAFSA at the Financial Aid Office. Students who filed electronically the previous year will receive their Renewal FAFSA electronically. Any student who wishes to file electronically may do so at the Department of Education’s Web site: www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The CSS PROFILE must be completed online at www.collegeboard.org. The Bryn Mawr College code number is 2049. Students must also submit signed copies of their and their parents’ federal income tax returns, including all schedules and attachments, to the Financial Aid Office. Students and parents who are not required to file a federal income tax return should submit a Bryn Mawr Non-Tax-Filer Statement. These forms are available from the Bryn Mawr web site.

For a list of scholarship funds and prizes that support the awards made, see our scholarship page or the printed catalog. These funds are used to enhance Bryn Mawr’s need-based financial aid program. They are not awarded separately. For information on loan funds, see our loan page or the printed catalog.